A Norwich scout troop gave 18 youngsters a week of thrills, spills and new experiences thanks to a grant from the Comic Relief Community Cash Campaign.

The 15th Norwich Air Scouts received £500 from last year’s scheme, which helped pay for the troop to attend a festival of archery, shooting, quad biking, sailing and climbing at NorJam 2010.

The cash was used to pay half the money needed for each scout to attend the eight-day festival at the Norfolk Showground from July 31 to August 7 2010.

Whilst the rest was spent on getting the right camping equipment for the event, including a dining tent, cooking equipment, lighting and gas bottles.

Scout leader, Simon Alexander, said: “Scouting is all about giving young people the chance to try something they would not normally otherwise try. Some of these things we can do in our day to day programme, but not these fantastic activities offered at NorJam. This is what the grant has given them. The chance to experience something new.”

The 15th Norwich Air Scouts welcome more than 20 boys and girls, aged 10 and a half to 14, from Thorpe st Andrew and Heartsease to their high-energy sessions.

Mr Alexander continued: “Seeing those smiling faces coming off of on activity at NorJam is what makes being a Scout leader worthwhile for me, despite putting in all those hours for nothing.”

Small organisations have the chance to apply for a wedge of £50,000 as part of this year’s Evening News and Red Nose Day Community Cash Campaign. The grants between £500 and £1,000 are available to groups with an income of less than £50,000 in the past year, who are in the Norwich City Council local authority area, and are working within a disadvantaged or deprived community.

Application forms can also be picked up from the Evening News office at Prospect House or downloaded from www.eveningnews.co.uk. The deadline is on Friday, March 18. Completed applications should be sent to Norfolk Community Foundation, St James Mill, Whitefriars, Norwich, NR3 1SH.